Container

ABSTRACT

A container for containing personal hygiene items includes a pair of mating clamshell halves coupled together to form a space inside when mated together. The container includes a tray shaped and sized to fit within the space and able to be disposed therein. The tray includes a top filling cavity bounded on a front-side by a cage wall extending below a bottom surface of the cavity such that the cage wall and the bottom surface of the cavity form an enclosed space together with an inside surface of one of the clamshell halves when the tray is disposed therein. The container includes an arm extending from the tray to a collar that is rotatably coupled about a hinge coupling the mating clamshell halves together. The container material includes anti-bacterial material. The container includes a fluid dispensing container disposed in the cavity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. §120, to the U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/955,022 to Niedzwiecki et al.filed on Mar. 18, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to containers, specifically a compactshower hygiene kit.

2. Description of the Related Art

A soap dispenser is a device that, when manipulated or triggeredappropriately, yields soap (usually in small, single-use quantities). Itmay be manually operated by means of a handle, or may be automatic. Soapdispensers are often found in restrooms. The design of a manual soapdispenser is generally determined by whether the soap comes in liquid,powder, or foam form. When soap is dispensed in liquid form, it isgenerally in a squeeze bottle or pump. The most popular soap dispensersof this type are plastic pump bottles, many of which are disposable.

Dispensers of powder soaps, such as borax, often take the form of ametal box with a weighted lever; when the lever is pressed, a handful ofsoap is released. Manual dispensers of foam soap often consist of alarge button which squeezes the foam out of a tube. Many liquid soapdispensers operate in this way as well. A few dispensers operate with alever that pulls forward and squeezes the soap out. 99% of manual foamsoap dispensers have the soap in a bladder in the dispenser in liquidform, as the pump is pressed the liquid soap is pushed through a smallfoaming nozzle which foams the soap.

Some improvements have been made in the field. Examples of referencesrelated to the present invention are described below in their own words,and the supporting teachings of each reference are incorporated byreference herein:

U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,027, issued to Law et al., discloses dispensers, andparticularly automatic dispensers, and even more particularly, automaticsoap dispensers for dispensing a foamed soap or another cleaning orantibacterial substance to a user's hands. The dispensers provide aninternal working system that allows soap or foam to be dispensed from aninverted bottle via movement of an actuator.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,075, issued to Simkins, discloses a personal squeezebottle dispenser has a clamshell housing adapted to receive a squeezebottle having a push/pull dispensing valve. A slide mechanism isreceived within the housing and has a collar at one end engaging thepush/pull valve, and a spring at the other end to effect automaticreturn of the slide mechanism upon termination of a dispensing cycle.The spring biases the push/pull valve to the closed position. Theclamshell housing is configured with an opening for a thumb pad of theslid mechanism to achieve opening of the push/pull valve andaccommodating pressure upon the squeeze bottle. An opening on thebackside of the housing, opposite the thumb pad, is also provided toallow the user's fingers to access the squeeze bottle for theapplication of dispensing force.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,005, issued to McMahan, discloses a soap dispensingshower unit includes a base member which has plural shower head unitsupporting members and plural soap container supporting members. Severalsoap supply containers are held by the soap container supportingmembers, and plural shower head units are held by the shower head unitsupporting members. A soap dispensing shower head is included with theshower unit. This shower head includes a support with a shower headdetachably fit to one end and a water supply pipe connector at the otherend. A valve arrangement is provided with the support. This valvearrangement includes a soap supply line, a soap valve, a water supplyline, a water valve and a junction where the soap supply line and thewater supply line merge together. The soap valve and water valve may beselectively activated to supply soap only, water only, or a mixture ofsoap and water. Liquid soap is fed from the supply container to the soapsupply line by a venturi feed arrangement or by a gravity feedarrangement. The support of the shower head may be in the form of a handgrip, wherein the valve arrangement is provided in the hand grip. Thesoap supply container may be provided at least partially in the handgrip.

The inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantageswhich include, but not limited to, being unsafe, being harsh to theenvironment; being bulky; being limited in use; being limited inapplication; being non-airtight; being expensive; failing to preventluggage/clothes/washcloths/etc. from being exposed tosoap/shampoo/cleaner/toothpaste/etc.; being difficult to store; beingdifficult to travel with; not having enough storage space inside; notpreventing bacteria growth; not being customizable; and/or being limitedin application to just one of touring, camping, hiking, or home use.

What is needed is a container that solves one or more of the problemsdescribed herein and/or one or more problems that may come to theattention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with thisspecification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the presentstate of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems andneeds in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currentlyavailable containers. Accordingly, the present invention has beendeveloped to provide a compact and portable personal hygiene shower kit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a container orkit for containing personal hygiene items that may include a pair ofmating clamshell halves that may be coupled together and form a spaceinside when mated together. The container or kit may include a tray thatmay be shaped and sized to fit within the space and may be able to bedisposed therein. The tray may include a top filling cavity that may bebounded on a front-side by a cage wall that may be extending below abottom surface of the cavity such that the cage wall and the bottomsurface of the cavity may form an enclosed space together with an insidesurface of one of the clamshell halves when the tray is disposedtherein.

The container or kit may include an arm that may be extending from thetray to a collar that may be rotatably coupled about a hinge that may becoupling the mating clamshell halves together. The container or kit mayinclude a plurality of cavities. The container material may includeanti-bacterial material. The container or kit may include a loofah thatmay be disposed in the clamshell half, opposite of the tray. Thecontainer or kit may include a fluid dispensing container that may bedisposed in the cavity. The container or kit may include a gasketdisposed about a mating perimeter of at least of the clamshell halves.The container may include a plurality of support ribs that may bedisposed along a surface of one of the clamshell halves. The containermay include a clip that may be selectably coupleable to the tray,configured to secure the tray within an interior of a clamshell half.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present invention should be or are in anysingle embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to thefeatures and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature,advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodimentis included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language,throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theinvention can be practiced without one or more of the specific featuresor advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additionalfeatures and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments thatmay not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, ormay be learned by the practice of the invention as set forthhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, amore particular description of the invention briefly described abovewill be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that areillustrated in the appended drawing(s). It is noted that the drawings ofthe invention are not to scale. The drawings are mere schematicsrepresentations, not intended to portray specific parameters of theinvention. Understanding that these drawing(s) depict only typicalembodiments of the invention and are not, therefore, to be considered tobe limiting its scope, the invention will be described and explainedwith additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawing(s), in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a container, in an open mode,according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a container, in an open mode,according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a container, in an open mode,according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a kit, in an open mode, accordingto one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a container, in a closed mode,according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial view of a hinge of a container according to oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodimentsillustrated in the drawing(s), and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations andfurther modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andany additional applications of the principles of the invention asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to an “embodiment,” an “example”or similar language means that a particular feature, structure,characteristic, or combinations thereof described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the presentinvention. Thus, appearances of the phrases an “embodiment,” an“example,” and similar language throughout this specification may, butdo not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, to differentembodiments, or to one or more of the figures. Additionally, referenceto the wording “embodiment,” “example” or the like, for two or morefeatures, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are necessarilyrelated, dissimilar, the same, etc.

Each statement of an embodiment, or example, is to be consideredindependent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use ofsimilar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore,where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” theidentified embodiment is independent of any other embodimentscharacterized by the language “another embodiment.” The features,functions, and the like described herein are considered to be able to becombined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or artmay direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.

As used herein, “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “is,” “are,”“characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive oropen-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements ormethod steps. “Comprising” is to be interpreted as including the morerestrictive terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a container, in an open mode,according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown a container10 including a pair of mating clamshell halves 12, and a tray 16disposed therein.

The illustrated container 10 is for containing personal hygiene items.The container is portable and is made of anti-bacterial material. Thecontainer 10 includes a pair of mating clamshell halves 12 coupledtogether to form a space 14 inside when mated together. The pair ofmating clamshell halves create an enclosure to store personal hygieneitems therein. The enclosure may be air-impermeable. The container 10includes a tray 16 shaped and sized to fit within the space 14 and isable to be disposed therein. The tray 16 includes a top fillingcavity/receptacle 18 bounded on a front-side by a cage wall 20 extendingbelow a bottom surface 22 of the cavity 18 such that the cage wall 20and the bottom surface 22 of the cavity 18 form an enclosed spacetogether with an inside surface 24 of one of the clamshell halves 12when the tray 16 is disposed therein.

The illustrated container 10 includes an arm 26 extending from the tray16 to a collar 28 rotatably coupled about a hinge 30 that couples themating clamshell halves 12 together. The arm 26 and collar 28 are morefully described in FIG. 6 below. The illustrated container 10 includes aplurality of cavities. The container 10 includes a fluid dispensingcontainer 32 disposed in the cavity 18. The container 10 may include aplurality of fluid dispensing containers 32 disposed in the plurality ofcavities 18. The fluid dispensing container 32 are reuseable andrefillable with personal hygiene products. The container 10 includes agasket 34 disposed about a mating perimeter of at least one of theclamshell halves 12. The gasket 34 is configured to expel air fromwithin the space 14, when the container 10 is in a closed mode, therebyproviding a safe and sanitary enclosure for the personal hygiene itemsto be disposed therein.

The illustrated container 10 includes a plurality of support ribs 36disposed along a surface of one or both of the clamshell halves 12. Thesupporting ribs 36 is configured to support the structure of theclamshell halves 12, thereby protecting the space 14 and the itemsdisposed therein. The container 10 includes a clip 38 selectablycoupleable to the tray 16, configured to secure the tray 16 within aninterior of a clamshell half 12, thereby securing the fluid dispensingcontainers 18 within the space 14.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a showercontainer/kit 10 including a pair of shell structures 12 forming aclamshell in cooperation together, a support structure 36, a gasket 34,a tray 16, a space 14, a storage region opposite the dispenser supportand sized and configured to store a loofah or similar article; and aplurality of dispensing containers 32.

The illustrated shower container 10 is configured to be used to storepersonal hygiene items for use in a shower or bathroom. The showercontainer 10 is configured to be used for home and travel usage. Theshower container 10 includes a pair of clamshells halves 12 configuredto store and protect the contents of the shower container 10. Theclamshell halves 12 are formed by a rigid material configured to retaina shell shape.

The shower container 10 includes a support structure 36 coupled to aninterior of the clamshell halves 12 and configured to provide a supportstructure for the contents of the shell. The support structure 36includes a rigid material configured to retain a shell exoskeleton shapeand/or may be functionally coupled to (thus supporting) one or more ofan anti-microbial liner, one or more internal containers (e.g. plasticbottles, etc.), and/or the support structure may form a hinge or aportion thereof. It may be that the shell, due to its characteristics(e.g. thickness, rigidity of the material thereof, etc.) maysufficiently retain its own shape during use and may not need any othersupport structure(s) to accomplish the same.

The shower container 10 includes a tray 16 for supporting dispensersdisposed within the clamshell halves 12 and may be coupled to thesupport structure or may be independently coupled to the hinge, therebyable to move freely from the support structure 38. The illustrated tray16 is configured to store a plurality of dispensers. The tray 16 and/orinterior of the shell includes anti-bacterial material, such as but notlimited to bamboo fibers, colloidal silver, anti-microbial gel, andetc., configured to provide a germ-free structure. The tray 16 may beshaped to secure and support a loofah or sponge. The shower container 10may include a pair of dispenser supports, each disposed within theshell, on opposite sides of the shell, and coupled to the supportstructure. The clamshell halves 12 includes a gasket 34 or support ringdisposed about the edges of the shell that come into contact when closedthat is shaped, sized and positioned to provide an air-tight seal whenthe shell is closed. The gasket 34 or support ring is configured to bedisposed on a top lip of each half shell. The clamshell halves 12includes a hinge 30 configured to hinge open and close the half shellsfor storage or use. The tray 16 may be a support netting or cage wall 20configured to store a personal hygiene item.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is an airtight waterresistant compact travel container 10 for personal soap/shampoo/liquidand toiletry items. It is a green product including an anti-microbialliner. The container 10 is self-contained with pre-empty bottles andpumps. The pumps may be selectably lockable. The container 10 includes anet barrier or tray 16 to carry additional items, including but notlimited to net loofahs. The container 10 opens and closes by a built-inhinge and clasp. The container 10 includes a gasket/seal around theperimeter that when the clamshell container is closed, the gasket sealcreates an airtight seal. The clamshell container 10 may be plastic anddecorative. The bottles or fluid dispensing containers 32 may be clip-inand may clip in multiple bottles at a time. The anti-microbial linerincludes bamboo fibers and is attached to the case with clips (notglue). There may be two cages, one for each side, to hold in thematerials (bottle and liners and etc.). There is a plastic clip-inbarrier that runs across the dispensing containers 32, half the heightof the shell that leaves an empty space under the dispensing containersfor additional storage. There is a flat surface on both sides of theclamshell that it may lay on.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a combination ofsoap dispenser and loofah holder in a clamshell case/container. Thecase/container includes antimicrobial netting in a compact storagecase/container. The illustrated netting or cage may use bamboo fibers inthe liner.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the clamshell structuresare mirror images of each other, so that only one tool or manufacturingprocess is needed to produce both halves. The shell structures jointogether with a snap together hinge and may be easily separated forcleaning as well. The snap hinge is designed for one half to snap ontothe other half. An example of a snap together hinge may be, but notlimited to a piano hinge; wherein one half snaps onto the other andwhich is split at the center so the two ends are mirror images of eachother.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a container, in an open mode,according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown a container10 including a pair of mating clamshell halves coupled together by ahinge 30 and including a tray 16 disposed therein.

The illustrated container 10 is for containing personal hygiene items.The container is portable and is made of anti-bacterial material. Thecontainer 10 includes a pair of mating clamshell halves 12 coupledtogether to form a space 14 inside when mated together. The container 10includes a tray 16 shaped and sized to fit within the space 14 and isable to be disposed therein. The tray 16 includes a top filling cavitybounded on a front-side by a cage wall 20 extending below a bottomsurface 22 of the cavity such that the cage wall 20 and the bottomsurface 22 of the cavity form an enclosed space together with an insidesurface 24 of one of the clamshell halves 12 when the tray 16 isdisposed therein. The cage wall 20 and the interior of the clamshellhalves 12 includes anti-bacterial material, thereby providing a sanitarystorage region for personal hygiene items.

The illustrated container 10 includes an arm 26 extending from the tray16 to a collar 28 rotatably coupled about a hinge 30 coupling the matingclamshell halves 12 together. The container 10 includes a plurality ofcavities. The container 10 includes a gasket 34 disposed about a matingperimeter of at least one of the clamshell halves 12. The illustratedgasket 34 includes a release valve to release excess air disposed withinthe space 14 when the container 10 is in a closed mode. The container 10includes a clip 38 selectably coupleable to the tray 16, configured tosecure the tray 16 within an interior of a clamshell half 12.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a container, in an open mode,according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown a container10 including a pair of clamshell halves 12 coupled together and having atray 16 configured to be disposed within the clamshell halves 12.

The illustrated container 10 is for containing personal hygiene items.The container is portable and is made of anti-bacterial material. Thecontainer 10 includes a pair of mating clamshell halves 12 coupledtogether to form a space 14 inside when mated together. The pair ofmating clamshell halves create an enclosure to store personal hygieneitems therein. The enclosure may be air-impermeable. The container 10includes a tray 16 shaped and sized to fit within the space 14 and isable to be disposed therein. The illustrated tray 16 is also sized andshaped to fit within one of the supporting ribs 36. The tray 16 includesa top filling cavity 18 bounded on a front-side by a cage wall 20extending below a bottom surface 22 of the cavity 18 such that the cagewall 20 and the bottom surface 22 of the cavity 18 form an enclosedspace together with an inside surface 24 of one of the clamshell halves12 when the tray 16 is disposed therein.

The illustrated container 10 includes an arm 26 extending from the tray16 to a collar 28 rotatably coupled about a hinge coupling the matingclamshell halves 12 together. The container 10 includes a plurality ofcavities. The container 10 includes a gasket 34 disposed about a matingperimeter of at least one of the clamshell halves 12. The container 10includes a plurality of support ribs 36 disposed along a surface of oneof the clamshell halves. The supporting ribs 36 is configured to supportthe structure of the clamshell halves 12, thereby protecting the space14 and the items disposed therein. The container 10 includes a clip 38selectably coupleable to the tray 16, configured to secure the tray 16within an interior of a clamshell half 12.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a kit, in an open mode, accordingto one embodiment of the invention. There is shown a kit 40 including acontainer 10 having a pair of mating clamshell halves 12 coupledtogether and configured to support a tray 16 for supporting a pluralityof fluid dispensing containers 32 and a loofah 50.

The illustrated kit 40 is for containing personal hygiene items. The kit40 includes a container 10 that is portable and is made ofanti-bacterial material. The container 10 includes a pair of matingclamshell halves 12 coupled together to form a space 14 inside whenmated together. The pair of mating clamshell halves create an enclosureto store personal hygiene items therein. The enclosure may beair-impermeable. The container 10 includes a tray 16 shaped and sized tofit within the space 14 and is able to be disposed therein. The tray 16includes a top filling cavity 18 bounded on a front-side by a cage wall20 extending below a bottom surface of the cavity 18 such that the cagewall 20 and the bottom surface of the cavity 18 form an enclosed spacetogether with an inside surface 24 of one of the clamshell halves 12when the tray 16 is disposed therein.

The illustrated container 10 includes an arm 26 extending from the tray16 to a collar 28 rotatably coupled about a hinge 30 coupling the matingclamshell halves 12 together. The container 10 includes a plurality ofcavities. The container 10 includes a loofah 50 disposed in theclamshell half 12, opposite of the tray 16. The container 10 includes afluid dispensing container 32 disposed in the cavity 18. The container10 includes a gasket 34 disposed about a mating perimeter of at leastone of the clamshell halves 12. The container 10 includes a plurality ofsupport ribs 36 disposed along a surface of one of the clamshell halves.The supporting ribs 36 is configured to support the structure of theclamshell halves 12, thereby protecting the space 14 and the itemsdisposed therein. The container 10 includes a clip 38 selectablycoupleable to the tray 16, configured to secure the tray 16 within aninterior of a clamshell half 12.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shower kit is acombination of soap dispenser and loofah holder in a clamshellcase/container. The kit may be configured to secure and store aplurality of hygiene items, such as but not limited to: soap dispensers,bottles, loofahs, sponges or washcloths, toothbrush and toothpaste,replace liner with another structure, wherein the structure uses glueinstead of clips and materials other than plastic and bamboo. Thecase/container may include a suction cup or a rope to hang from showerhead. The case/container includes antimicrobial netting/cage wall in acompact storage case/container, wherein the netting or cage wall mayvary in the percentage of the bamboo fabric. The clamshell halves 12 mayinclude flattened regions whereby a user may place the shell on asurface such that the flattened surface allows the shell to rest thereonwithout rocking or shifting.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shower kit isconfigured to keep luggage and clothes from getting soapy; keep luggageand clothes from getting wet; keep the loofah from getting dirty orsticky. The shower kit is configured to allow a user to use their ownpersonal hygiene products. The shower kit takes up less space in storageor transportation. The shower kit is configured to protect users frominfections or bacteria from loofahs. The shower kit is configured toprovide additional storage for other personal items during travel. Theshower kit is configured to keep materials germ free. The shower kit isconfigured to keep surrounding materials safe from moisture and soapexplosions. The shower kit is configured to allow a user to customizewhat the user brings during travel. The shower kit is configured to beused for camping/hiking, not just for touring and traveling in hotels orabroad. The shower kit may be a kit provided by the hotel to guests.

Advantageously, the illustrated shower kit prevents accidental “soapexplosions” that sometimes occur during travel from soiling clothing inluggage with soap and/or other liquids. Further, the traveler is able tocustomize the contents of their dispensers to include the personal careproducts that they prefer to use instead of those provided by a hotel.Additionally, the kit is much more resistant to bacteria growth eventhough fluid may be retained within the device during travel.Accordingly, the user is provided with a safer and more customizedexperience free from the disasters that can occur, especially whentraveling between places having substantially different air pressuresand/or altitudes.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shower kit isconfigured to provide an anti-microbial fabric inside the shellstructures. This is a stretchy fabric like a fleece or possibly formedto fit inside the shell structure like a felt. The inside is lined withthis fabric to absorb water from dripping out into the suitcase whilepreventing the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria while wet.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shower kit includes aholding frame. The holding frame is a designed mirror image so whileholding the stretchy fabric in place, only one tool is needed to makeboth halves of the holding frame. The frame snaps onto a hinge and thensnaps into place on the shell structure so that the anti-microbialfabric may be removed for cleaning or replacement.

According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a shower kitincluding a pair of shell structures, wherein each shell includes agasket material over molded into the edge to seal the shower kit fromleaking liquids into the suitcase. The shower kit includes a dispensersupport configured to be snapped onto the shell structure or frame forholding bottles with pumps and for retaining other personal items suchas a shaver, a foot file, or other personal items.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a container, in a closed mode,according to one embodiment of the invention. There is shown a container10 including a pair of mating clamshell halves 12.

The illustrated container 10 is for containing personal hygiene items.The container is portable and is made of anti-bacterial material. Thecontainer 10 includes a pair of mating clamshell halves 12 coupledtogether to form a space inside when mated together. The pair of matingclamshell halves create an enclosure to store personal hygiene itemstherein. The enclosure may be air-impermeable. The illustrated gasket 34includes a release valve to release excess air disposed within thecontainer 10, when the container 10 is in a closed mode 52.

FIG. 6 is a partial view of a hinge of a container according to oneembodiment of the invention. There is a hinge 30 that couples matingclamshell halves together.

The hinge functions to permit the clamshell halves to open and close andalso permits the tray to swing outwardly from being nested within one ofthe clamshell halves. In particular, there is an arm 26 extending fromthe tray 16 to a collar 28 rotatably coupled about a hinge 30 thatcouples the mating clamshell halves together (See FIG. 1). The collarmay be toroidal (donut-shaped) and may be a solid toroid or may includea cut or missing section therethrough such that the collar may beselectably coupled/decoupled from the hinge 30 as desired.

The region of the hinge 30 where the collar 28 couples to the hinge 30is inset so that an exterior surface of the collar is flush with anexterior surface of the rest of the hinge. Accordingly, such a regionmay appear to be barbell-shaped or otherwise have a narrow middle regionflanked by wider regions that define the boundaries of the insetportion.

When desired, the tray may be disengaged from the shell into which it isnested (e.g. by disengaging the clip 38, See FIG. 1), and then swungoutwardly therefrom rotating with respect to the hinge by operation ofthe collar 28 and arm 26. In this manner, the space beneath thereceptacles but behind the cage wall may be accessed while the tray isstill supported by the structure of the container.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are onlyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Thedescribed embodiment is to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are onlyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Thedescribed embodiment is to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

For example, although the figures illustrate a tray having threeidentical receptacles, the receptacles of the tray may be heterogeneous.

Additionally, although the figures illustrate symmetrically shapedshells, it may be that one shell is deeper or otherwise has a largerinternal volume than the other shell.

It is expected that there could be numerous variations of thedesign/structure of this invention. The following are non-limitingexamples of variations of features, characteristics, structures,functions and the like of non-limiting embodiments of the invention:

-   -   variations in size and/or relative sizing of the variously        described and/or illustrated parts;    -   wherein there is an integral soap dispenser integral to one or        more of the clamshell case and/or the dispenser support;    -   variation in the number and/or size/relative sizes of dispenser        bottles;    -   variation on the types of dispenser bottles (e.g. spray bottles,        pressurized bottles, lotion dispensers, shampoo dispensers,        powdered talcum dispensers, makeup dispensers);    -   the storage spacing in the clamshell may hold one or more        loofahs, sponges, washcloths and/or other similar devices which        may be coupled to the shell and/or support structure by a cable,        cord, rubber band, tie, etc.;    -   the clamshell may be structured to open about a middle of the        device (e.g. like double doors);    -   there may be dedicated space for a toothbrush and/or toothpaste        replace liner with another structure such as but not limited to        including one or more clips, supports, baskets or the like or        combinations thereof shaped and sized to support/contain a        toothbrush and/or toothpaste dispenser; and/or    -   structures described herein may be coupled to each other using        one or more of glue, clips, friction fittings, snaps, belts,        buckles, hooks, hook and loop structures, fasteners, screws,        nails, staples and the like and combinations thereof.

Finally, it is envisioned that the components of the device may beconstructed of a variety of materials, including but not limited toplastic, resins, rubbers, fibers, natural fibers (e.g. bamboo), metals,ceramics, composites and the like and combinations thereof.

Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above withparticularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed tobe the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts ofthe invention as set forth in the claims. Further, it is contemplatedthat an embodiment may be limited to consist of or to consistessentially of one or more of the features, functions, structures,methods described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for containing personal hygieneitems, comprising: a) a pair of mating clamshell halves coupled togetherand forming a space inside when mated together; and b) a tray shaped andsized to fit within the space and able to be disposed therein, includinga top filling cavity bounded on a front-side by a cage wall extendingbelow a bottom surface of the cavity such that the cage wall and thebottom surface of the cavity form an enclosed space together with aninside surface of one of the clamshell halves when the tray is disposedtherein.
 2. The container of claim 1, further comprising an armextending from the tray to a collar rotatably coupled about a hingecoupling the mating clamshell halves together.
 3. The container of claim1, further comprising a plurality of cavities.
 4. The container of claim1, wherein the container material includes anti-bacterial material. 5.The container of claim 1, further comprising a loofah disposed in theclamshell half, opposite of the tray.
 6. The container of claim 1,further comprising a fluid dispensing container disposed in the cavity.7. The container of claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed abouta mating perimeter of at least of the clamshell halves.
 8. The containerof claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support ribs disposedalong a surface of one of the clamshell halves.
 9. The container ofclaim 1, further comprising a clip selectably coupleable to the tray,configured to secure the tray within an interior of a clamshell half.10. A kit for containing personal hygiene items, comprising: a) acontainer having a pair of mating clamshell halves coupled together andforming a space inside when mated together; b) a tray shaped and sizedto fit within the space and able to be disposed therein, including a topfilling cavity bounded on a front-side by a cage wall extending below abottom surface of the cavity such that the cage wall and the bottomsurface of the cavity form an enclosed space together with an insidesurface of one of the clamshell halves when the tray is disposedtherein; c) a fluid dispensing container disposed in the cavity; and d)a gasket disposed about a mating perimeter of at least of the clamshellhalves.
 11. The kit of claim 10, further comprising an arm extendingfrom the tray to a collar rotatably coupled about a hinge coupling themating clamshell halves together.
 12. The kit of claim 11, furthercomprising a plurality of cavities.
 13. The kit of claim 12, wherein thecontainer material includes anti-bacterial material.
 14. The kit ofclaim 13, further comprising a loofah disposed in the clamshell half,opposite of the tray.
 15. The kit of claim 14, further comprising aplurality of support ribs disposed along a surface of one of theclamshell halves.
 16. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a clipselectably coupleable to the tray, configured to secure the tray withinan interior of a clamshell half.
 17. A container for containing personalhygiene items, comprising: a) a pair of mating clamshell halves coupledtogether and forming a space inside when mated together; b) a trayshaped and sized to fit within the space and able to be disposedtherein, including a top filling cavity bounded on a front-side by acage wall extending below a bottom surface of the cavity such that thecage wall and the bottom surface of the cavity form an enclosed spacetogether with an inside surface of one of the clamshell halves when thetray is disposed therein; c) an arm extending from the tray to a collarrotatably coupled about a hinge coupling the mating clamshell halvestogether; d) a plurality of cavities; wherein the container materialincludes anti-bacterial material; e) a loofah disposed in the clamshellhalf, opposite of the tray; f) a fluid dispensing container disposed inthe cavity; g) a gasket disposed about a mating perimeter of at least ofthe clamshell halves; h) a plurality of support ribs disposed along asurface of one of the clamshell halves; and i) a clip selectablycoupleable to the tray, configured to secure the tray within an interiorof a clamshell half.